Former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has shared her academic journey, revealing the challenges she faced while studying for her PhD and how divine encouragement helped her overcome them.
Speaking on Sunday during a testimony session at Streams of Joy International Church in Abuja led by popular Pastor Jerry Eze, Dame Patience emotionally recounted her struggles and triumphs while pursuing her doctorate degree.
“I came here to thank God for all His doings, all the wonderful work in my life, in my family,” she said, drawing applause from the congregation.
Reflecting on her educational path, the former First Lady detailed her humble beginnings and the doubts she had when she decided to pursue further education after her time as Nigeria’s First Lady.
“When I started going through my educational background, I did not know what to tell God, I did not know what to say,” she said. “I did my NCE, I did my BSc, I did my Master’s, and when I went to pick my PhD form, I thought I will not make it. I had finished my career, I had finished as First Lady. What am I going to do with PhD now?”
Despite her doubts, she said she felt led by God to move forward with her academic pursuits.
“God told me, ‘Go there and try. If these children can make it, why can’t you make it?’ I said, ‘I am mama ooo.’”
Dame Patience described how the journey, which was meant to last three years, felt like 40 years. She recall now she commuted from Abuja to Port Harcourt, sometimes staying for weeks or a month at a stretch, attending classes and sitting on benches with much younger students.
“I was not ashamed oo. The teacher would be teaching, I would raise my hand to ask questions. The younger ones can understand once, but I had to ask questions three times before I could understand,” she recounted, drawing laughter and further applause from church members.
“Before I knew it, two years had passed. God saw me through and I completed my classes.”
She used her story to encourage others not to give up on education, regardless of age.
“If Patience can make it, you too can make it. There is no age limit in education. You are 100 years, you can make it. You are 10 years, you can make it. Just be determined,” she said passionately.
Dame Patience also shared how she transitioned from being a staunch Anglican to attending Pastor Jerry Eze’s church, after being convinced by her children.
LEADERSHIP reports that Pastor Eze and his Church members are popularly known with the common saying, ‘What God Cannot Do Does Not Exist’.
“I was born Anglican and married into an Anglican family, but my children convinced me to start attending Pastor Jerry Eze’s church,” she said. “Any day you don’t see me in church on Sunday, just know that I am not in town.”
She concluded her testimony by expressing heartfelt gratitude to Pastor Jerry Eze.
“El Roi, I thank you. You are great, Papa. I thank you for your morning prayers,” Dam Patience Jonathan added.
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